An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, including transport usage to communication habits.
